The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-31
WILL REFERIT TO POWDERLY
Col. Johnson Refuses to Consider the X.
of L. Committees New Demands,
And Says He Will Send Them to the General
Master Workman-Friends of the
Strikers Interfering with Cars.

A demand was sent Col. johnson Yesterday
By the executive board of the Knights of
Labor to have conductors placed on the South
Meridian street and Massachusetts avenue
East Washington street. Stockyards, Blake and
Noble, Virginia and Indiana avenues, North
Alabama and West Washington street lines. 1t
was also demanded that 20 cents an hour be
paid drivers of cars that had no conductors.
These demands were supplemented by
others of which notice has been made.
The Colonel read them and the long para
graphs of denunciations with which they
were supported. He was asked what rep ly he
intended to make. None whatever" he said.
II sent the remarkable paper to Powderly. I
want him to see what a set of incompetent men
control the Knights of Labor interests in this
district / not worrying much over the
strike. It does not keep me from my country
home. for 1 am satisfied that 1 get along
without the drivers who remain out. When
ever they ready to come back
they have their chance at driving, but do
not intend TO sacrifice any of the new men on
their account. The company had about $50
drivers before the strike occurred. 1t has almost
that number ready for duty, and to- morrow the
various lines will have their usual number of
was little curious to-day to know how
many OF the strikers would be in the Decoration
day parade. Fortyeig were counted. you
see there has been quite loss of their
original number, which was seventy.
You can say for me that the
knights Of Labor in nv employ do not recos-
nize the authority OF the executive board to call
them out under such circumstances. They will
not obey the order until the national executive
board has directed them do so, and even then
some have told me that it is doubtful If they re-
spond, because they say the purpose of the order
is to keep down strikes-not to encourage them,
in this instance"
The drivers had some trouble at the bridge
yesterday, the stockyards line. rail had
been torn up and thrown across the track. The
epithet Of scab was frequently used in certain
sections OF the city, and on a Massachusetts
avenue car, in the afternoon. man, very drunk,
made nuisance of himself by riding
and continually crying out 'Scab oh, scabbyl
have paid my fare and you can't put off"
The car full of ladies, ran off the track There
were a half-dozen men on board who could have
aided the driver but they and the drunkard ap-
peared to be highly amused at the helplessness
of the street-car company's employe. and
fused to assist in putting the the track.
After few minutes waiting, another driver
came to help his comrade out OF his difficulty.
In West Indianapolis there is an organized eff
fort to prevent the running OF cars ov any means
deemed necessary. and none moving that
line yet. The citizens over there all united
in their sympathy with the men. and a movement
Is on foot to have the town board require the
company to take up its track.
hundred or more laboring men, mostly from
the railroad shops and yards. gathered along
the East Washington-stree line from the Union
tracks crossing to the Deaf and Dumb Asylum,
about o'clock last night, and warned every
driver that passed not to make another trip. At
$50 o'clock the crowd went to the turn table at
the end of the line, and spiked it down. The
company called on the police for assistance. No
extra men were at hand, but the regular patrol
men on the beat did what they could to prevent
any trouble. For fear that some violence would
be attempted, all the were taken off that
lire before 10 o'clock.
Steps are to be taken by the different assem-
blies to which they belong to deal with the recall
citrant Knights Alpha Assembly will consider
the matter tonight, the Henry George Assembly
tomorrow night, and Willetts Assembly Thurs
day evening. 1t is probable that all who have
refused obey the executive boards com
mand will DO expelled. It is claimed by the
executive board that Colonel Johnson has offered
to deal with the strikers individuals but not
through n committee of Knights.
A knight of Labor states that persons are col
lecting subscriptions for the benefit of the stril1
without authority, and imposing upon
citizens.